possible new Amaranth world record

sunflower_info · « **on:** October 19, 2007, 20:15 »

I still need to submit my claim to Guinness World Records, but the Mercer County, New Jersey Weights and Measured Dept. measured my plant on Monday at 23 feet 2 inches, breaking the current world record of 15 feet 1 inch. If Guinness accepts the submission, then it will be my first world record.

FOX Philadelphia News Video:
FOX Philadelphia News Video

Trentonian News Article:
Trentonian News Article

muntjac · « **Reply #1 on:** October 19, 2007, 20:31 »

wowowwwwwwwwwwwww we got a record breaker on the site ..... you are now an officiall member of the uk wassucks.. .. always wanted a celeb in the team

congratulations on both

Garden Gnome · « **Reply #2 on:** October 19, 2007, 20:33 »

Good grief!

Excellent!!

The obvious question: what DID you put on it? In vague detail, if it is a special secret mix, would be fine!

Well done indeedy!

shaun · « **Reply #3 on:** October 19, 2007, 21:07 »

dont know what it is but well done to yer

gobs · « **Reply #4 on:** October 19, 2007, 21:09 »

We all celebrate now,don't we?

Where's the champaign Mod Team? :roll:

agapanthus · « **Reply #5 on:** October 19, 2007, 21:37 »

Absolutely brilliant!!! Well done!

Trillium · « **Reply #6 on:** October 20, 2007, 05:15 »

that is some incredible size plant you've got there, sunflower, but I immediately began to wonder if the plant was in seed and it all got spread!

sunflower_info · « **Reply #7 on:** October 20, 2007, 07:03 »

Quote from: "Garden Gnome"

Good grief!

Excellent!!

The obvious question: what DID you put on it? In vague detail, if it is a special secret mix, would be fine!

Well done indeedy!

At first, I wasn't doing much with the plant. In the beginning of the year I just spread some Espoma Garden-Tone. I gave some seeds to a friend in Dutchess County, New York. His plant was about 4 feet taller than mine by the end of June; so I had to do something to catch up. I then started taking it seriouly and started pouring 32 oz. to 64 oz. a week of Espoma Bio-Tone Starter on the plant. (Bio-Tone Starter is just basically the good bacteria and fungus you find in the soil) Within a few weeks of doing that, it grew an additional 5 feet in two weeks, surpassing my friend's plant. While it was growing, I was also adding a small amount of calcium nitrate 3 to 4 times a day. When mid-August came the night temps started dropping; so I started pouring hot water (3 to 4 gallons w/ the calcium nitrate in the water) on the ground 3 to 4 times a day to keep the soil temperature as high as possible. 90 degree range is optimum for nutrient uptake. It's a marsh plant; so you don't have to worry about over watering. I did a few other things, but that is mainly what I did.

My friend's plant ended up being about 22 feet, and my plant was 23 feet. However, my friend's plant grew a very large stem. His stem circumference is now over 4 1/2 feet. I don't have that because I purposely planted my very close to avoid that. My thought was I didn't want it to grow out, but up instead.

Here are pics of my friend's amaranth

picture of my friend's amaranth stalk (has grown since I took this pic)

sunflower_info · « **Reply #8 on:** October 20, 2007, 07:08 »

Quote from: "Trillium"

that is some incredible size plant you've got there, sunflower, but I immediately began to wonder if the plant was in seed and it all got spread!

It may spread in my garden, but it's not going anywhere else. This plant is a marsh plant and needs swampy conditions to thrive. My friend's yard it may spread, because he lives right on a swamp.

Also, I live in New Jersey and he lives in New York; so our shorter season would keep this plant in check if it got loose. These plants are long seasoned and grow in the South Eastern United States. The farthest north they are found in the wild is Virginia. It's just on the edge here of getting seeds. Early frost here and it wouldn't produce seeds. It's possible they could survive in the wild here, but I don't think they would go buck wild and take over the wetlands here. Then again, you never know.

Garden Gnome · « **Reply #9 on:** October 20, 2007, 10:11 »

Thanks for the reply! Interesting, all the work you did, and the 'stuff' you used on it.

I'm sat here staring at a packet of early-flowering amaranth, wondering how many I dare sow next spring... isn't it related to quinoa? Poor birds must get vertigo going up there to get the seed heads!

GardenMonster · « **Reply #10 on:** December 26, 2007, 23:48 »

This is a coppy of the official measure
this plant grown in NY.
BY Jesse Eldrid
contactJesse@
myspace/GardenMonster

gobs · « **Reply #11 on:** December 27, 2007, 10:16 »

Seems Sunflower lost out there, well done Jesse.

sunflower_info · « **Reply #12 on:** December 31, 2007, 07:13 »

Quote from: "gobs"

Seems Sunflower lost out there, well done Jesse.

I've been awarded the GWR for the world's tallest Amaranth on Dec 18th. My certificate just arrived in the mail today.

gobs · « **Reply #13 on:** December 31, 2007, 11:13 »

Oh, well done! Getting a bit dizzy now, though. :shock:

DD. · « **Reply #14 on:** December 31, 2007, 11:24 »

I'm well confused now. (Easy I know)

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